Gulfstream Park Track Update for Dec. 16

With the first big day of open stakes races of the Championship meet coming up Saturday at Gulfstream, let’s check in on how things are shaping up in Hallandale Beach!

Jockeys

Two weeks in, Luis Saez is strong. His 16 wins (16-for-52, 31%) lead all riders, four clear of Paco Lopez (12-for-53, 23%) and five ahead of Edgard Zayas (11-for-65, 17%). In general, watch Lopez in short races; in sprints on any surface, he is 8-for-25 (32%) with a shining +87% ROI.

Saez has scored most of his wins on the dirt (9-for-24, 38%, +1% ROI), though his break-even ROI means the betting public knows. Returns on dirt have been better for Franklin Calles (2-for-8, 25%, +97% ROI) and Luca Panici (2-for-11, 18%, +64% ROI). Saez also leads riders on all-weather (5-for-17, 29%, +12% ROI), one win clear of Lopez (4-for-20, 20%, +98% ROI).

The picture on the lawn looks a little different, with Tyler Gaffalione (4-for-16, 25%, -2% ROI) leading by a win over Emisael Jaramillo, Lopez, and Miguel Angel Vasquez. Among those, Jaramillo (3-for-14, 21%, +81% ROI) has a betting return that stands out.

Trainers

Saffie Joseph, Jr. (12-49, 24%, +16% ROI) has jumped out to a massive early lead in the Gulfstream standings. However, his closest foe has fewer starters than Joseph has winners, and is a familiar face at the top of the Championship meet standings: Todd Pletcher (6-for-11, 55%, +128% ROI). Both Joseph (8-for-22, 36%, +92% ROI) and Pletcher (5-for-8, 63%, +25% ROI) have done most of their winning on dirt, with Joseph in particular a better bet on dirt than on other footings.

Three trainers are tied with two wins on the grass. Though Joseph’s came in 19 starts, Barclay Tagg and Wesley Ward are both 2-for-3, with both of Tagg’s scores coming in routes and Ward’s in sprints.

On the all-weather, Jose D’Angelo, Luis Duco, and Joseph all have two wins. Duco’s two all-weather wins have come from just three starts, including 8.2-1 chance Bella Sofi and 54.7-1 moon shot William Boy.

At a Glance

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